Hi there guys - i recently purchased old 1971 22x14 and 16x16 SBP Ludwig drums to which I am adding a 1970 MWP 13x9 tom - the shells and wrapping are in great condition and they are still fitted with original Ludwig heads - my only issue is that there's quite severe pitting on some of the lugs - see pics. What's the best way to clean these without damaging them? Or should I just live with it?
Regards and thanks
Erik
I use Blue Magic Metal Polish/Protectant. It will clean the remaining chrome to a nice shine, but holes in the chrome from pitting are there to stay. If it bothers you, you can pick up a set on eBay for a fair price from time to time. Good luck!
Lynn
These are some old Slingerland lugs I cleaned up. At first I thought they were a lost cause. They are nickel plated. I'll be honest here. I tried everything to remove this pitting. Dawn soak, CLR soak, Bar keepers friend with a tooth brush. Nothing worked. Last ditch resort was a SOS pad. I figured I had nothing to lose. A few light scrubs on 1 lug to test, slow and steady. Checking progress along the way. You can see the pock marks from the pitting remains. But they cleaned up pretty well. And I used them all. By far THE worst lugs I've tried to save. The use of steel wool is a big no no otherwise. I think the soap in the SOS pad helped quite a bit. These are old cell pics sorry the quality is not better. I can take some new ones later if you like.
I think a soak in mineral water and white vinegar for 24 hrs can do wonders.
It did when i was removing calcium and lime staining from the Ludwig lugs i was restoring a few years back..I then used CLR calcium/lime metal and chrome stain remover and that did it.. However, you have to be careful to read instructions carefully and not leave on the CLR metal and chrome cleaner on too long, as it will begin to deteriorate the chrome..
Hope this helps .
cheers,
Rob
These are some old Slingerland lugs I cleaned up. At first I thought they were a lost cause. They are nickel plated. I'll be honest here. I tried everything to remove this pitting. Dawn soak, CLR soak, Bar keepers friend with a tooth brush. Nothing worked. Last ditch resort was a SOS pad. I figured I had nothing to lose. A few light scrubs on 1 lug to test, slow and steady. Checking progress along the way. You can see the pock marks from the pitting remains. But they cleaned up pretty well. And I used them all. By far THE worst lugs I've tried to save. The use of steel wool is a big no no otherwise. I think the soap in the SOS pad helped quite a bit. These are old cell pics sorry the quality is not better. I can take some new ones later if you like.
Looks like nice results, Glenn! I've used a light scrub with 0000 steel wool (and I emphasize light...and 0000 is the least abrasive steel wool) on a few parts before, such as tension rods and other parts that were quite rusty. However, I'd never have thought to use SOS pads. As the guys on the Guinness beer commercials used to say, "Brilliant!"
I think a soak in mineral water and white vinegar for 24 hrs can do wonders.
+1 here on soaking in white vinegar. Although, I generally don't add water and only let the parts soak 10-15...but that's for small rusty parts. Can't say that I've done that with lugs...or that I've attempted to clean lugs that were that pitted.
Again, good luck to you Erik! Let us know how they turn out.
Lynn
I soak rusty parts in white vinegar for 24 hours...A quick scrub with a toothbrush and then polish...
For really rusty parts, I`ll soak in white vinegar, the I`ll do a scrub with aluminum foil...Works like magic...
Cheers
A product called Evaporust does wonders without damaging the chrome. I'm not sure though if it's only available in Canada. An excellent product. Just soak and rinse.
Brian
I've used sos pads too, mr clean magic eraser, all kinds of stuff. Soaking them in blue dawn overnight works great, a tip learned here. I usually finish with nevr-dull
Thanks for all the input guys, I really appreciate it. FFR 428 - I am not familiar with SOS pads / have never seen those here in South Africa - will google it�� I have tried white vinegar before and it works very well - too well in fact in that it even removed some chrome from claws that I tried to clean up. Next time I will definitely add some water to dilute. Another question: from a collectors perspective - is the kit more desirable cleaned or as is ? Cheers guys ��
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